Should You Buy a 2019 Lincoln Continental?

Lincoln has gotten its groove back and is now making some good stuff, starting with the Lincoln Continental.

The thing about the 2019 Lincoln Continental is that you don’t expect it to be that great. You expect it to be a heavy, boring, disconnected luxury car lacking any sort of personality. Once you get out on the road, however, you find a car that’s certainly refined and luxurious, but also actually enjoyable to drive. You will also get a look or two from other drivers.

The Lincoln Continental is one of two really good vehicles Lincoln is building right now, the other being the 2019 Lincoln Navigator. The Navigator is now one of the best premium full-size sport utility vehicles you can buy and a lot of what makes the Navigator great can be found in the Continental.

It’s a shame that not that many people are going to buy one. Lincoln sold less Continentals last year than in 2017 and the overall sales numbers are nowhere close to the top of the segment. To put in perspective, Mercedes-Benz sold over 3,500 E-Class models in 2018 and BMW sold over 2,500 5 Series sedans. Lincoln sold 438 Continental units.

Still, every time I get into the Continental I’m amazed at how much luxury surrounds the driver, and how good the car behaves on the road. I think the problem is that not enough people know about it. That, and the fact that Lincoln’s image still needs some fixing.

Lincoln Continental Red

Why You Should Buy a 2019 Lincoln Continental

The interior is basically a Lincoln Navigator which means you get the luxury of a $90,000 premium vehicle in a car starting at around $60,000. There isn’t a car in this price range that feels as expensive and luxurious as the Continental.

It drives like a more expensive car as well. It’s quiet and manages to eliminate just about every road imperfection. It’s not quite on the same level as a Mercedes-Benz S-Class or BMW 7 Series, but it’s more comfortable than any mid-size luxury sedan like a 5 Series, E-Class or Audi A6.

Power comes from either a 2.7-liter turbocharged V6 with 335 horsepower and 380 pound-feet of torque, or a 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 with 400 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque. Although the Lincoln Continental is not sporty or agressive, it launches forward with absolute confidence as soon as you nudge the right pedal. There’s always plenty of muscle to pass and it never feels heavy like you sometimes think a Continental will feel.

The Continental is a very spacious vehicle, especially in the back. There is a ton of space everywhere. Driving in winter with a big coat, a hat, gloves, and big boots, I never felt cramped.

Speaking of winter, I managed to get the Continental out of a serious snow bank with minimal effort and the subsequent icy roads were a breeze to drive on. The Conti is big and heavy, and handles a snow storm accordingly.

Lincoln Continental Interior

Why You Shouldn’t Buy a 2019 Lincoln Continental

It will likely depreciate like crazy. Buying one new is by no means an investment. What you want to do is pick up a demo.

Reliability still needs to be proven. There are a lot of gizmos in the Continental and the sample size isn’t big enough to get a clear idea of how reliable it is. Lincoln has had issues in the past and the J.D. Power Dependability Study hasn’t always been kind to the American automaker.

Fuel economy is by no means impressive. I averaged over 14.0 liters per 100 kilometers. Yes, it was winter, and yes there’s a lot of power under the hood, but BMW and Mercedes-Benz do a better job of combining fuel efficiency and horsepower.

Lincoln Continental Rear

Final Word

Lincoln is on the right path. If it keeps building cars like the Continental and Navigator, and gets ride of cars like the MKC, they will do very well. As for buying a Continental, we think you should give it a shot. You will probably get a good deal from the dealer and you will get your money’s worth. It’s designed for pragmatic buyers who want luxury and don’t care about which brand gives it to them.

Lincoln Continental Images Gallery

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2019 Lincoln Continental Gallery

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Lincoln Continental

Rhapsody is the signature Lincoln Black Label theme for the 2017 Lincoln Continental; the unique monochromatic interior offers rich, layered tones of blue in a multitude of textures

Rhapsody is the signature Lincoln Black Label theme for the 2017 Lincoln Continental; the unique monochromatic interior offers rich, layered tones of blue in a multitude of textures

2018 Lincoln Continental

Lincoln Continental

Rhapsody is the signature Lincoln Black Label theme for the 2017 Lincoln Continental; the unique monochromatic interior offers rich, layered tones of blue in a multitude of textures

2018 Lincoln Continental

The Lincoln Motor Company is the exclusive automaker to offer Revel® premium audio in its lineup of luxury vehicles, including the all-new 2017 Lincoln Continental.

Lincoln Continental

2017 Lincoln Continental

2017 Lincoln Continental

2018 Lincoln Continental

2018 Lincoln Continental

2018 Lincoln Continental

2018 Lincoln Continental

Lincoln Continental

Rhapsody is the signature Lincoln Black Label theme for the 2017 Lincoln Continental; the unique monochromatic interior offers rich, layered tones of blue in a multitude of textures

Charles Jolicoeur was studying to be a CPA when he decided to drop everything and launch a car website in 2012. Don't ask. The journey has been an interesting one, but today he has co-founded and manages 8 websites including EcoloAuto.com and MotorIllustrated.com as General Manager of NetMedia360. He also sits on the board of the Automotive Journalists Association of Canada.

Motor Illustrated is all about cars. We want to inform consumers about the latest automotive news, and hopefully provide them with the info they need when buying a new or pre-owned car. We also tend to be pretty opinionated.